Ivory Coast coach Hervé Renard has announced his squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the Elephants preparing to host Ghana in their opening Group C fixture.
The two-time AFCON-winning nations will meet at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on Thursday, 24 September, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT.
The match will be Renard’s first competitive assignment since returning for a second spell in charge of the Ivorian national team.
The French coach has selected a squad containing a number of established players based in European football, alongside younger attacking options.
Real Madrid youngster Yan Diomandé has been included, as have Inter Milan forward Ange-Yoan Bonny and Villarreal winger Nicolas Pépé.
Their inclusion gives Renard several options in attack as he begins his latest spell with the Elephants with a demanding fixture against the Black Stars.
However, Ivory Coast will be without several players who could have featured in the squad.
Wilfried Singo, Amad Diallo, Martial Godo and Simon Adingra are among the key absentees ahead of the meeting with Ghana.
Renard’s return is an additional point of interest surrounding the Group C opener.
The Frenchman previously guided Ivory Coast to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title, with the Elephants beating Ghana on penalties in the final.
More than a decade later, Renard will begin his second spell with Ivory Coast against the same opponent, although this time the fixture comes at the start of a new AFCON qualifying campaign.
The squad announced for the September and October FIFA windows includes three goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana, Alban Lafont and Koné Mohamed.
In defence, Renard has selected Guela Doué, Ouattara Kassoum, Evan Ndicka, Ousmane Diomandé, Emmanuel Agbadou, Odilon Kossounou, Christ Tapé and Ghislain Konan.
The midfield options are Ibrahim Sangaré, Franck Kessié, Christ Inaо, Patrick Zabi, Malick Yalcouyé, Amadou Koné and Eddy Doué.
The attacking group consists of Yan Diomandé, Nicolas Pépé, Bazoumana Touré, Yoan Bonny, Élye Wahi, Yann Gboho and Ryan Fofana.
For Ivory Coast, the encounter with Ghana will open their Group C campaign in the race to qualify for the 2027 AFCON.
The Elephants will have home advantage when the two West African sides meet in Bouaké, while Renard will begin his competitive return with a fixture carrying a particular history for him.
His previous Ivory Coast team defeated Ghana in the 2015 AFCON final after a penalty shootout, giving Renard his first continental title with the Elephants.
His return to the national team has now brought him back into another meeting with Ghana, this time with qualification for the next continental tournament at stake.
The selection also places attention on a younger generation of Ivorian players, including Diomandé and Bonny, who have been included alongside more experienced figures such as Pépé, Kessié and Sangaré.
With several notable players absent, Renard will have to work with the group selected for the opening qualifier.
Ghana’s visit to Bouaké will therefore provide the first competitive test of Renard’s second tenure, while both teams begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaigns with the Group C opener.
The Stade de la Paix will host the fixture on 24 September, with the Elephants hoping to begin their campaign positively under their returning French coach.
